League table: The DPT3 coverage measure

Immunization drop-out rates signal flawed systems

The high BCG-DPT3 drop-out rates of 10% to 59% (below) spell bad news
for the health of young children and present a challenge for local health delivery
systems. Health systems in countries where the drop-out rate is more than 10% are
considered flawed by health experts.

The figures show that caregivers had been in contact with health care
systems because their young children had received an anti-tuberculosis BCG shot. They did
not, however, return with their children to complete the three-dose series of
diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus vaccine (DPT3). This suggests that caregivers either were
dissatisfied with the services or were not even made aware that a course of DPT was
needed.

These figures are important because they pinpoint deficiencies in the
quality of immunization services being provided and can spark measures to correct the
problems and improve DPT3 coverage within the current infrastructure at minimal
additional cost.